EIU Football Team Moves Up In Poll

Published on September 4 2012 2:09 pm
Last Updated on September 4 2012 2:09 pm
Written by Millie Lange

PHILADELPHIA – The top five teams in the Sports Network FCS football poll remained unchanged as the Eastern Illinois Panthers moved up considerably in the other teams receiving votes category following the season opening 49-28 win over Southern Illinois.

EIU is 36th in this week’s FCS poll, the 11th team also receiving votes after a solid weekend by FCS teams. The Panthers return to action this Saturday when they visit Western Michigan for a 6 p.m. game which will be televised on ESPN3. EIU leads the all-time series 1-0 after beating the Broncos 28-20 back in 1996. WMU lost its season opener 24-7 at Illinois.

Sam Houston State remained the number one team in the FCS poll despite not playing during the opening week. The Bearkats received 87 first place votes. Defending national champion North Dakota State collected 65 first place votes to rank second after a season opening win. Georgia Southern was third and Montana State fourth in the poll both receiving first place votes. James Madison was fifth.

Youngstown State had the remaining seven first place votes after the Penguins beat Pittsburgh of the Big East Conference to move from 13th in the preseason poll to sixth. Old Dominion, Northern Iowa, Eastern Washington and Wofford rounded out the top ten.

Appalachian State headed the next group of ranked teams in 11th followed by Montana, Towson, New Hampshire, Delaware, Lehigh, Stony Brook, Illinois State, Stephen F. Austin and Maine. EIU will play at No. 18 Illinois State on Sept. 15 in the 101st playing of the Mid-America Classic.

The final five teams rounding out the poll are Eastern Kentucky, McNeese State, Indiana State, Jacksonville State and Central Arkansas. EIU will play EKU and UCA on the road while JSU will visit O’Brien Field later this year.

UT Martin which upset Memphis was the third team listed also receiving votes joined by Tennessee Tech which was one spot higher than Eastern Illinois among teams receiving votes.